Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-10-20
NO. Al.
TRUTH.

|
L c Albany Estate Register" lie was
m eye witness Of the scene in one OF
the higher courts of New York
A litlle girl. nine years Of age, WIS
offered as witness against prisoner,
who was on trial for felony COM
mittea in her father y house.
Now, Emily said tho counsel for
The prisoner, upon he: being offered
as n witness, / desire 10 know if you
understand abe nature Of an oath =
Il don't know what you mean' was
the simple answer.
There. your honor, said the eoun-
sci, addressing the eourr, is anything
further necessary to demonstrate the
validity of my objection ? This wit
ness should be rejected. She does not
comprehend the nature Qf an oath
Let as soc. said the Judge. Come
hare. ny daughter
Assured by the kind tone anl man
ncr Of the judge, the Guild stepped
toward him, and looked ohGdinriy up
into bis face with calm, clear eye,
aud with amauucr so artle4s. and frank
that ii went straight TO the heart.
Did YOU ever take an oath 2 IL
quired the, judge. The little girl
stepped back with look OF helror,
aud the red blood mantleA Ia n LIu>h
III over her luce as she answered
w. SIR
STE hon. bt that he intended 10 in-
qua, i! s.sr'v'r Liasrhemed.
j do rUt mean t!r,;' said The judge.
who saw her mistake /; 4 mean were
you ever wilucss before p
No, / n,vrr MIS- ia court before. !
was tie answer.
He banded !cr the Bible. cren:
DO you know that book, my daugh.
ter p
She looked at IL and answered Yes,
air ; it is the Bible
DO you ever read it p he asked.
Yes, sir. every evening"
Can you tell me wha. the Bible is p
inquired the judge.
1t is the word of the great God, >
she answered
well, place your hand upon this
Bible. aud listen TO what ] say : and
be repeated slowly and solemnIy the
oath usually administered to witnes-
ses.
Now said the Judge. you have
sworn as q witness, will you tell me
what will befall you If you do not tell
the truth p
i shall be shut up in the State
prison, answered the child.
Anything else = asked the Judge.
Il shall never 60 to heaven she re-
piled.
How do you know this p asked
the Judge again.
The child took the Bible and turn
ing rapidly to the chapter containing
the commandments, pointed to the
injunction, Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy neighbor,' Il
learned that before | conld read.
Has anyone talked with you about
your being q witness here against
this man inquired the Judge.
Yes, SIR she replied. MY moth
er heard they wanted me to be wit
ness, and last night she called me to
her room and asked me to tell her the
ten commandments, and then we
kneeled down together, and she prayed
that | might understand how wicked
it was to bear false witness against
my neighbor, and that God would
help me, little child, to tell the truth
as it were before Him. And when |
came up with my father, she kissed INC
and told me to remember the ninth
commandment, and that God would
hear every word that | said
DO you believe this p asked the
judge, while q tear glistened in his
eye and hislips quivered with emotion.
Yes, SIR said the child, with a
voice and manner that showed her
conviction of the truth was perfect.
God bless you, my child, said the
Judge; you have q good mother,
Thiswitness is competent, he contin-
ued. Were | On trial for my lite and
Innocent OF the charge against me,
| would pray to God for such wit
nesses as this Let her be exam ined.
She told her story with the SIM
plicity of a child, as she was but
there was o directness about it that
carried conviction of its truth to every
heart She was rlgidly cross exam
ined. The counsel piled her with in
definite and ingenious questioning
but she varied from her first statement
in nothing. The truth as spoken by
tie little child was sablne False
hood and perjury had proceeded her /.
/ yrNI 4 L. 4 II